Melamine usage question

I did a utility room remodel with drywall, baseboards, etc. I have a concrete utility sink/washer discharge sink that now only has a brick wall behind it. I have been looking at various wall covering materials and found a 1/8” or ??mm thickness Melamine in a 4×8 sheet.

It did not say and I didn’t think to ask, but my question is: Is this material water proof or water resistant? I suspect it wouldn’t be more than a couple drops splashed from time to time.

-- Dave - Milwaukee

7 replies so far

I think Melamine is….but be aware because there are products out there meant to look like melamine and they’re not. The only issue is the seems or joints. if water gets in there then there will be some swelling but as for the melamine itself, you can pour a glass of water on it and it will just sit there until it evaporates.

Just don’t let water get to the unsealed edges, it behaves like particle board or mdf then. Grades of melamine make a difference too. Domtar or Panolam would be better than the imports. When I was building kitchen cabinets we would always use matching laminate for the bottoms, sides and backs of sink cabinets or wherever water exposure could be a problem .

Thanks for the replys and the info on the joints. I didn’t think of that and there will be a joint below the upper edge of the sink. I can probably put a bead of silicone in the plastic union I’ll be using to join the two pieces together.

Edit: I considered the FRP, but the wife was opposed to the industrial/rest area bathroom wall decor in her new laundry room.

I found the wall material that looks like tile as mentioned above. I think I’m going to use that. It will still have a horizontal seam in it behind the sink, so I will have to seal it, but it is attractive. My issue is I cannot use one continuous piece due to the plumbing and the plumbing off to the side for the wash machine hot and cold.

Use Dens Armour! Cuts and attaches just like drywall, finishes the same also. It calls itself mold and moisture resistant, I call it impregnable. I was thinking about using it in my bath, but I didn’t know anything about it, so I took about 1 sq. ft. and put it in a bucket of water. Surprise, it floated! So I wedged a brick on top of it and figured I’d let it sit for a couple of days. Well, I forgot about it and got it out a week and a half later. It still snapped like it was brand new. Cut just the same also.